Thermal testing probe

ABSTRACT

A THERMAL TESTING PROBE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A HEAT SOURCE AND A PLURALITY OF SENSING ELEMENTS MOUNTED THEREIN. THE SENSING ELEMENTS ARE MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING TO PROJECT OUTWARDLY THEREFROM TO SENSE THE HEAT TRANSMITTED THROUGH A WORK-PIECE FROM A LOCALIZED AREA ON SAID WORK-PIECE HEATED BY SAID HEAT SOURCE. MEANS   ARE PROVIDED IN THE HOUSING FOR SHIELDING SAID SENSING ELEMENTS FROM THE HEAT DEVELOPED BY SAID HEAT SOURCE.

Jan. 19, 1971 SCHROEER ETAL 3,555,879

, THERMAL TESTING PROBE Original.Filed Oct. 9. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS. [00/ Al. Jl'l/Pflf'? TIIMAJ 14. 6746441964035 Jan. 1971 R. M.SCHROEER ETAL THERMAL TESTING PROBE Original Filed Oct; 9. 1964 5Sheets-Sheet z Jan; 19, 1971 R. M. SCHROEER ETAL THERMAL TESTING PROBEOriginal Filed Oct. 9. 1964 7 I L M if I r/Z I' y! M! w QIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIllUlllflltulll AIIIIIII 4Q J i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS.

70m: 4. mew/MM av! AM,

mwewm.

I Mil p4 I Jan. 19, 1971 SCHRQEER ETAL 3,555,879

' THERMAL TESTING PROBE Original Filed Oct. 9. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

R. M. SCHROEER ETAL 3,555,379

THERMAL TESTING PROBE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 19,1971

Original Filed Oct. 9. 1964 United States Patent Oifice 3,555,879THERMAL TESTING PROBE Rudi M. Schroeer and Thomas A. Garmhausen, Dayton,Ohio, assignors to Arvin Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporationof Indiana Original application Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,841, nowPatent No. 3,369,389, dated Feb. 20, 1968. Divided and this applicationSept. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 667,990 Int. Cl. G01n /00 US. CI. 73-15 21Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A thermal testing probe comprising ahousing having a heat source and a plurality of sensing elements mountedtherein. The sensing elements are mounted in said housing to projectoutwardly therefrom to sense the heat transmitted through a work-piecefrom a localized area on said Work-piece heated by said heat source.Means are provided in the housing for shielding said sensing elementsfrom the heat developed by said heat source.

This application is a divisional application of our copendingapplication Ser. No. 402,841, filed Oct. 9, 1964, now Pat. No.3,369,389, dated Feb. 20, 1968.

This invention relates to a probe for use in measuring the quality ofphysical contact between two or more pieces of material. For example, itis useful in measuring the quality of bonds between pieces of materialwhich may be fused together by processes such as welding, soldering, andthe like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a testing apparatus whichwill measure the thermal conductivity of a. work-piece, which will giveaccurate and rapid measurement readings, which can be used on relativelysmall work-pieces, and which can be used on work-pieces of irregularcontour.

According to one form of the invention, there is provided a heat sensingprobe comprising a housing having a spring-loaded electrode connected toa low voltage power supply. A plurality of heat sensing elements arealso spring-loaded within the housing and project outwardly therefromwith their outer ends disposed in the same general plane as the end ofthe electrode. A plurality of tubes are disposed around the electrodewith their discharge ends interposed between said electrode and thesensing elements. Said tubes are interconnected to a source of air underpressure so that they will discharge streams of air between theelectrode and sensing elements to cool the electrode after a test ismade and before a new test is made. Conveniently, a plurality ofadjustable stops project outwardly from the probe for limiting movementof the electrode and sensing elements when the probe is placed inoperative position with said electrode and sensing elements bearingagainst a Work-piece.

In operation, one side of the power supply for the electrode isconnected to said electrode and the other side of said power supply isconnected to the work-piece to be tested. The sensing elements, whichare wired in parallel to sense the average temperature of the workpiecearound the electrode, are connected to a measuring circuit. Said sensingelements form one branch of a Wheatstone bridge in the circuit, withsaid bridge being connected to a power supply. The output of the bridgeis fed into a diflerentiating amplifier circuit containing a meter formeasuring the rate of change of the temperature of the work-pieceimmediately adjacent the point of contact of the electrode on saidwork-piece.

If two pieces of metal are intimately bonded together, as by a highquality weld joint, the heat applied to one Patented Jan. 19, 1971 ofsaid pieces of metal from the electrode will be quickly dissipated intothe second piece of metal. If, on the other hand, there is poor qualityweld joint interconnecting the two pieces of metal, the heat applied toone of said pieces of metal by said electrode will not be quicklydissipated into the second piece of metal so that the temperature of thepiece of metal to which the electrode is applied will rise rapidly.Therefore, if the meter in the measuring circuit indicates that there isa relatively slow rate of temperature increase in the piece of metal towhich the electrode is applied, the interconnection between the twopieces of metal constitutes an intimate interconnection, as a good weldjoint. If, on the other hand, there is a rapid rate of temperatureincrease in the piece of metal to which the electrode is applied, thenthe heat emanating from the electrode is not being conducted into thesecond piece of metal at a rapid rate and there is not intimateinterconnection between the two pieces of metal, as poor weld joint.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe more detailed description which follows and from the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a heat sensing probe embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the probe shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram for the electrode shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of the electrical measuring circuit for usewith the probe shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the plots of welds made with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of modified form of the probe shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the probe shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 11- 11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation of a modified form of the probe shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 14-14 ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on on the line 15-15of FIG.13;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a modified form of the probe shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is an end elevation of the probe shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 1818 ofFIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a wiring diagram 'for an electrical measuring circuit usingsensing elements giving a direct rate of temperature change measurement.

For ease in description, the use of the instant invention will herein bedescribed "for measuring the quality of a weld joint between two piecesof metal constituting the work-piece. It is to be understood, however,that the invention can be employed to measure the intimacy with whichtwo pieces of metal are interconnected irrespective of their methods ofinterconnection.

A good weld will provide a significantly better heat transfer mediumthan a bad weld. If heat is applied to the surface of a spot weldbonding two pieces of metal together, the heat will be conductedthroughout the two pieces in a hemispherical pattern. Two generaldirections of the heat flow pattern are of significant interest-the heatflow laterally in all directions from the weld through the surface ofthe first piece of metal; and the downward flow of heat through the weldcolumn to the second piece of metal. The proportion of the quantity ofheat transferred laterally to that transferred downwardly changessignificantly from good to bad Welds. A poor bond will not provide asefiicient a downward heat transfer medium as a good weld. Therefore, agreat amount of heat will be transferred laterally in the first piece ofmetal to which the heat is applied in the case of a bad weld. By heatingthe weld surface under controlled conditions, specific measurementvalues for good and bad welds can be established for measuring the rateof heat change in the piece of metal to which the heat is applied for agiven instant of time during the heat application cycle. The instantinvention is therefore concerned with the measurement of the rate ofheat change applied to a piece of material connected to another piece ofmaterial for determining the quality or the intimacy of theinterconnection between the two pieces of material.

The instant invention comprises a sensing probe, an embodiment of whichis illustrated in FIG. 1 and a measuring circuit illustrated in FIG 7.The probe is adapted to be placed against the work-piece for measuringits thermal conductivity. Said work-piece may comprise a first piece ofmetal rigidly bonded to a second piece of metal 12 by a weld column 14.The probe comprises a housing formed from a pair of opposed shells 15connected by screws 13 to a support block 16 formed of electricallyinsulated material. The shells 15 are bent inwardly at one of theirends, as at 18, to enclose one end of the housing. The opposite end ofsaid housing is enclosed by an end block 20 formed of electricallyinsulating material and connected to the shells by the screws 17. Theblock 16 is provided with a pair of shouldered openings 22 for thereception of bolts 23 which extend forwardly through spacers 24 and arereceived in the rearward portions of openings 25 formed in the block 20.As the bolts 23 are drawn up, the ends of the spacers 24 will abut theadjacent faces of the blocks 16 and 20 to secure the blocks in thedesired spaced relationship. A pair of limit screws 26 are adjustablyreceived in the forward ends of the block openings 25 and projectoutwardly therefrom for limiting the minimal spacing between the metalsheet 10 and the adjacent end of the housing. Conveniently, each of thescrews 26 is held in the desired position of adjustment 'by a locknut 28received thereon and drawn up against the outwardly presented face ofthe block 20.

The blocks 16 and 20 have centrally located, aligned openings 30 and 31formed therein for the reception of an electrode 32 having a pointed tip33 engageable with the weld column to be tested, as the column 14. Theelectrode is formed of material having a high electric resistivity andlow heat conductivity, such as for example Inconel, platinum-iridium, orthe like. The rear end of the opening 30 is shouldered at 34 to form aseat for a coil spring 35 disposed around the electrode 32 and havingits opposite end bearing against a metal bushing 36 slidably received inthe opening 31 in the end block 20. A pair of retainer rings 38 arereceived in annular grooves in the bushing 36 and are disposed onopposite sides of a terminal clamp 39 bindingly mounted on said bushingand bindingly retaining the electrode in a fixed position in thebushing. The spring 35 biases the electrode point 33 outwardly from theend block 20, with the outward movement of said electrode being limitedby the forward retainer ring 38 bearing against the rear face of saidblock.

The block 20 is provided with a pair of openings 40 interposed betweenthe openings 25 and the central opening 31, and equidistant from theopening 31. An elongated sleeve 42 formed of electrically insulatingmaterial is slidably received in each of the openings 40 and projectsoutwardly beyond the forward face of the end block 20. Intermediate itslength, each of the sleeves 42 has an outwardly projecting shoulder '43engageable with the rear face of the block 20. The rearward end of eachsleeve 42 is slidably carried in an opening 44 in the block 16 and bearsagainst a coil spring 45 carried in the opening 44 with its rearward endseated against a shoulder 46 formed at the rear of said opening. Each ofthe sleeves 42 has a thermal sensing element 48 at its forward end whichis carried in a spring loaded position against the work-piece sheet 10by the spring 45. Any convenient type of thermal sensing element 48 canbe employed, such as for example, a thermistor whose electricalresistivity decreases with an increase in temperature.

A conduit 50 connected to a suitable source of air under pressureextends through the housing and the block 16 to dispose its dischargeend in the space between the blocks 16 and 20. A plurality of tubes 52are mounted in the block 20 in radially spaced relationship to theelectrode opening 31. The rearward ends of the tubes 52 are in opencommunication with the space between the blocks 16 and 20 and theforward discharge ends of said tubes project outwardly beyond the frontface of the block 20. The tubes 52 converge forwardly toward theelectrode tip 33 to discharge a stream of air around the electrode forrapidly cooling the electrode after a heating cycle so that a new cyclecan be quickly started.

As shown in FIG. 6, power for the electrode 32 is supplied from a powersource through an adjustable transformer 55 and step-down transformer56, with a manually operated switch interposed therebetween. One line 58of the take-off from the transformer 56 is connected to either the sheet10 or 12 of the work-piece. The other line 59 of the take-off from thetransformer is connected by a screw 62 to the clamp 39 on the electrodesupporting bushing 36. In this manner, a completed circuit isestablished through the electrode 32, the work-piece, and the line 58 sothat the electrode tip 33 will generate heat on the weld column 14. Asshown in FIG. 3, the line 59 is carried into the probe housing through aconduit 64 mounted in a grommet 65 carried in one of the shell end walls18.

The measuring circuit for the apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 7 andcomprises a power source 66 connected to a pair of lines 67 and 68connected to a Wheatstone bridge 69, the line 67 being provided with aswitch 70. Two legs of said bridge are provided with fixed resistances71. A third side of said bridge comprises the sensing elements 48 whichare wired in parallel with each other to give an average temperaturereading laterally outwardly from the weld column 14 and which areconnected to the bridge by lines 72 and 73. Conveniently, the lines 72and 73 extend through the conduit 64 for connection to the sensingelements in the probe. The fourth side of the bridge is provided with anadjustable resistance 74 to give a zero reading at ambient temperatureacross the bridge. A line 75 is connected to one side of the bridge andto one side of an ammeter 76. The opposite side of said ammeter isconnected by a line 77 to said bridge. Interposed between the ammeter 76and the bridge in the line 77 is a differentiating amplifier circuitcomprising a capacitor 78 and a direct current amplifier with a feedbackresistor 79 wired in parallel with the amplifier, said resistordetermining the gain of the differentiating circuit.

Thus, when the electrode 32 is energized, it will supply heat to theweld column 14. The sensing elements 48 will become heated to a lesseror greater degree depending upon the quality of the weld column 14 tocause their electrical resistance to change to provide a meter readingat 76. The differentiating amplifier circuit thereby provides ameasurement of the average of the rate of change of temperature at thelocations of the sensing elements 48 on the work-piece sheet 10 withinone second for determining the quality of the weld column 14.

As shown in FIG. 8, a poor quality weld will produce the curve 91because the weld column 14 does not efficiently conduct the heat awayfrom the electrode tip 33 thereby causing a rapid lateral temperaturerise in the work-piece sheet 10. If a good quality weld is provided bythe column 14, a substantially greater percentage of the heat from theelectrode tip 33 will be conducted to the work-piece sheet 12, and thetemperature of the work-piece sheet will not rise as rapidly so that thetemperature of the work-piece sheet at the sensing elements 48 willprovide a curve 92. This rate of change of temperature or differentialquotient dT/at represent the tangent of the plot, temperature versustime, and changes continuously during the heat transfer and is largerfor a bad weld than for a good weld. The bad Weld quotient has itshighest magnitude at the beginning of the test and then decreases, whilea good weld connection shows a gradual increase in the quotient. Usingour invention it is thus not necessary to wait for temperatureequillibrium at the elements 48 or even to wait at least several secondsuntil suflicient temperature increasing occurs.

In many cases, the plots of good and bad welds differ not only withrespect to the rate of change, but also with respect to the sign of rateof change. A 'good weld shows an increase while a bad weld shows adecrease of rate of change with time. In order to determine whether therate of change is increasing or decreasing, a second amplifying circuitcan be connected in parallel across the meter 76 by lines '82 and 84. Asshown in FIG. 7, the line 84 is connected to a capacitor =85 in serieswith a direct current amplifier. A resistance =87 is wired in parallelwith the amplifier. The lines '82 and 84 are connected across ammeter 81provided with indicia 89 and 90 for indicating whether the rate oftemperature change is increasing (positive) or decreasing (negative).

A modified form of the sensing probe is shown in FIGS. 9-12. Said probeis provided with a housing comprising a pair of opposed shells 94provided with vent openings 95 and closed at their rearward ends as at96. The shells 94 are connected by a plurality of screws 98 to three1ongitudinally spaced support blocks 99, 100, and 10 1, the block 101enclosing the forward end of the probe housing. A bracket 102 is mountedin the housing by a screw 103 and supports a high current low voltagebulb 104 which serves as the heat source for the probe. An elipticalreflector 105 is disposed around the bulb 104 for directing the energytherefrom forwardly through the housing. Said reflector is provided withlegs 106 connected to one of the housing shells 94 by bolts 107 forsupporting the reflector in the housing around the bulb 104. Desirably,the reflector 105 has a pluarity of rearwardly projecting cooling fins108 projecting rearwardly around the bracket 102.

The forward end of the reflector 105 is disposed in axial alignment witha lens 110 carried in an opening 111 formed in the block 99.Conveniently, said lens is carriedagainst a shoulder 112 in the opening111 by an O- ring seal 113. A frustoconical reflective shield 114 ismounted on the forward face of the block 99 in alignment with the lens110 by screws 115 with a portion of said shield projecting through andbeing supported by openings formed in the blocks 100 and 101. Thus, theheat energy from the bulb 104 will be reflected by the reflector 105 tothe lens 110, whereupon it is focused through the reflective shield 114onto the weld column to be tested.

A pair of thermal sensing elements 116, as for example, thermistors, arecarried forwardly of the block 101 on opposite sides of the forward endof, and equidistant from, the shield 114 in a pair of outwardly biasedspring brackets 117 mounted on the forward face of the block 101 byscrews 118. The wires 120 leading from the elements 116 are carried ingrommets 121 disposed in openings formed in the blocks 101, 100, and 99,with the opposite ends of the wires 120 being connected through standoffterminals 122 to the lines 72 and 73 in the indicating circuit shown inFIG. 7 for measuring, in the same manner as previously discussed, therate of temperature increase of the workpiece when the bulb 104 isenergized. The spring brackets 117 bias the elements 116 outwardly toengage the surface of the work-piece whose temperature is to bemeasured, but to prevent said clamps from being distorted inwardly by anexcessive pressure being applied to the work-piece, a pair of adjustablelimit screws 124 are mounted in the forward face of the block 101 andare releasably retained in the desired position of adjustment by locknuts 125 received in the screws 124 and bearing against the block 101.

In order to concentrate the heat projected from the shield 114 onto thework-piece and to insulate the elements 116 from the end of said shield,an air conduit 126 is connected to a suitable source of air underpressure and projects through one of the shells 94 and block 99 todispose its discharge end in the space between the blocks 99 and 100. Aplurality of forwardly converging air tubes 128 are mounted in theblocks 100 and 101 with their rearward ends in open communication withspace between the blocks 99 and 100 and their forward ends disposedimmediately forwardly of the block 101 adjacent the forward end of theshield 114. The conduit 126 is also provided with an opening 130rearwardly of the block 99 to cause air to flow around the bulb 104 andreflector 105 for discharge out the openings 95 so as to prevent thehousing from becoming overheated.

Another embodiment of the probe is shown in FIGS. 13-15 and comprises ahousing formed from a pair of opposed shells 132 provided with ventopenings 133 and closed at their rearward ends as at 134. Said shellsare connected as by screws 135 to longitudinally spaced support blocks136, 137, and 138, the block 138 enclosing the forward end of the probehousing. A bulb supporting bracket 140 is mounted in the probe by ascrew 142 to support a low voltage high current bulb 148 providing theheat source for the probe. The energy from the bulb is directedforwardly through the probe by an elliptical reflector 150 havingoutwardly projecting legs 152 connected to one of the housing shells 132by bolts 154 for supporting the reflector in the housing around thebulb. Conveniently, said reflector is also provided with a plurality ofrearwardly projecting cooling fins 155 for dissipating the heat that isnot reflected and directed forwardly through the probe.

The forward end of the reflector is connected to a frustoconical fiberoptic 156 having its rearward end supported in the forward end of thereflector 150 and projecting forwardly from said reflector throughopenings in the support blocks 136-138, with its forward end projectingoutwardly beyond the end of the block 138. The optic 136 is comprised ofa plurality of glass fibers each having a diameter of less than .0001inch. Thus, the energy from the bulb 148 is reflected forwardly by thereflector 150 and focused through the probe by the optic 156 onto thework-piece.

A pair of thermal-sensing elements 158, for example thermistors, areequally spaced from the end of the optic 156 on opposite sides thereofand are supported on a pair of outwardly biased spring brackets 160mounted on the forward face of the block 138 by screws 161. The springbrackets 160 bias the sensing elements forwardly of the probe to engagethe surface of the work-piece to be tested on opposite sides of thepoint at which heat is applied to the work-piece through the optic 156.The sensing element leads 162 are carried in grommets 163 mounted inopenings in the blocks 136138 and are connected through stand-offterminals 164 to the lines 72 and 73 in the measuring circuit shown inFIG. 7 for measuring, in the same manner as previously described, therate of temperatureincrease of the adjacent work-piece surface when thebulb is energized.

In order to prevent the spring brackets 160 from being compressedsufficiently to permanently distort them and/ or to damage the optic 156when the sensing elements are pressed against the work-piece, a pair oflimit screws 166 are adjustably mounted in the block 138 and projectforwardly therefrom. Said screws are releasably retained in the desiredposition of adjustment by lock nuts 168 received in said screws anddisposed against the forward face of said bracket.

In order to concentrate the heat projected from the optic 156 andthermally insulate the sensing elements from said optic, an air conduit170 is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure and projectsthrough one of the shells 133 to dispose its discharge end in the spacebetween the blocks 136 and 137. A plurality of forwardly converging airtubes 172 are mounted in the blocks 137 and 138 with the rearward endsof said tubes in open communication with the space between the blocks136 and 137 and their forward ends disposed immediately adjacent theforward end of the optic 156 between said optic and the sensing elements158. The conduit 170 is also provided with an opening 174 rearwardly ofthe block 136 to cause air to flow around the bulb 148 and reflector 150for discharge out the vent openings 133 so as to prevent the housingfrom becoming overheated.

Another embodiment of the probe is shown in FIGS. l6-l8 and comprises ahousing formed from a pair of opposed shells 176 closed at theirrearward ends as at 178, and connected by screws 180 at their oppositeends to a support block 182. The support block is connected to an endblock 184 by a pair of bolts 186 received in shouldered openings 187 inthe block 182 and in openings 188 formed in the block 184. Desirably, apair of sleeves 189 are disposed around the bolts 186 with their opposedends disposed in abutting engagement with the adjacent faces of theblocks 182 and 184. A cowling 190 is connected to the blocks 182 and 184by screws 192 to enclose the forward portion of the probe and the spacebetween said blocks.

A pair of arms 194 are mounted on the rear face of the block 182 byscrews 195. Said arms support a diode laser 196 whose crystal 198projects a heat beam through aligned openings 200 and 201 formed in theblocks 182 and 184, respectively. The laser beam projects through theopening 201 onto the work-piece to be tested so that the rate oftemperature increase of the work-piece can be measured.

To measure the rate of temperature change, a pair of thermal sensingelements 203, for example thermistors, are mounted in sleeves 204equally spaced from, and disposed on opposite sides of, the blockopening 201. Each of the sleeves 204 is slidably carried in alignedopenings 206 in the blocks 184 and 182. A coil spring 207 is carried inthe openings 206 in the block 182 with one of its ends abutting ashoulder 209 formed in said opening and its opposite end abutting theadjacent end of the sleeve 204 for thus biasing said sleeve and sensingelement outwardly from the end block 184. The outward biasing movementof each of the sensing elements 203 is limited by a shoulder 210 formedon the sleeve 204 and engageable with the rear face of the block 184.The electrical leads 212 for the sensing elements 203 extend through thesleeves 204 and are operatively interconnected to the lines 72 and 73 ofthe measuring circuit shown in FIG. 7 for measuring, in the same mannerpreviously described, the rate of temperature increase of the adjacentwork-piece surface.

Rearward movement of the sensing elements in the probe is controlled andlimited by a pair of limit screws 212 adjustably mounted in the endblock openings 188 and projecting forwardly from said end block. Saidscrews are releasabily retained in the desired position of adjustment bylock nuts 214 received on said screws and bearing against the forwardface of the end block 184.

The probes shown in FIGS. 1-5, 9-12, l3-15, and 16- 18 have beendescribed as employing thermal-electric sensing elements such asthermistors. Thermocouples and other thermal-electric sensing deviceswhose properties change with temperature changes can also be employed.It is important, however, to employ sensing elements which use a designwhich provides the least amount of mass in order to achieve a fastresponse. It is also possible to use a sensing element which itself willindicate the rate of temperature change. Examples of such sensingelements are crystals made from BaTiO or triglycerine sulfate and whichare polarized before being used. These sensing elements which provide apyroelectric effect for indicating directly the rate of temperaturechange produce a current which is expressed by the formula 1 wherein Wis the heat power incident on the work-piece, K is a constant dependingupon the heat capacity of the work-piece, P is the saturationpolarization, T is temperature, and t is time.

Since sensors of this type provide a direct reading of the rate oftemperature change, they may be employed with the circuitry shown inFIG. 19, wherein the crystals 215 are connected in parallel with eachother. The two wires 224 and 225 from the electrodes of the crystalscarrying a signal directly corresponding to the rate of temperaturechange are connected with a meter 226, which can be a vacuum tubevoltmeter, indicating the rate of change. If a measurement of the signof that rate of change is desired to be made, a pair of lines 228 and229 can be connected across the meter 226 and across ammeter 230provided with indicia 231 and 232 for indicating whether the rate of thetemperature change is increasing or decreasing. A differentiatingamplifier circuit is disposed ahead of the ammeter 230 and comprises acapacitor 234 in series with a direct current amplifier 236 having aresistance 235 wired in parallel with it.

As previously indicated, the invention has been described as measuringthe quality of a weld connection, but it is to be understood, of course,that the invention can determine the quality of any interconnectionbetween two or more components, and the probes illustrated in FIGS.9-12, 13-15, and 16-18, which use high intensity light sources as heatgeneration members, can be employed for measuring the quality ofinterconnection between both metallic and non-metallic members. Sincethe probe illustrated in FIGS. l-5 requires the work-piece being testedto be electrically interconnected to the probe, said probe is adaptedfor use only with electrically conductive workpieces.

Each of the heat sources in the probes shown in FIGS. 9l2, 13-15, and16-18 is provided with an actuating switch such as the switch 60 shownin FIG. 6.

We claim:

1. A thermal testing probe, comprising a housing having a pair oflongitudinally spaced support blocks with one of said support blocksforming one end of the housing, an electrode heating element mounted ina bushing slidably carried in said support blocks in said housing forheating a localized area of a work-piece, said bushing being biasedoutwardly for urging said electrode outwardly through said one end ofsaid housing, a plurality of thermal-sensing elements mounted in sleevesslidably carried in said support blocks in equally spaced relation tosaid heating element, biasing means acting between said sleeves and theother of said support blocks for urging said thermal-sensing elementsoutwardly beyond said one end of said housing for engagement with thework-piece, and means for limiting the inward movements of said sensingelements with respect to said housing.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said bushing iselectrically interconnected to one side of the take-off of atransformer, the other side of the take-off of said transformer beingadapted to be connected to the work-piece, and said transformer isinterconnected to a source of electric power through an adjustabletransformer.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said means forlimiting the inward movements of the thermalsensing elements compriseslimit screws mounted in said support blocks to project outwardly fromthe housing.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that meansproject outwardly on said bushing and sleeves to engage said one supportblock for limiting the outward movement of said electrode andthermal-sensing elements from said one end of said housing.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that aplurality of air tubes are mounted in said support blocks and convergetoward each other between said electrode and thermal-sensing elementsadjacent the outer face of said one support block, said air tubes beingin open communication with a conduit connected to a source of air underpressure. i

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said support blocksare interconnected by a plurality of bolts extending therebetween, and aplurality of spacers are mounted on said bolts with their opposed endsabutting the adjacent faces of said support blocl c' 7. A thermaltesting probe, comprising a housing having a pair of Shells mounted on apair of longitudinally spaced support blocks with one of said supportblocks 1 forming one end of said housing, a heating element comprising ahigh intensity light source mounted in said housing for heating alocalized area of a work-piece, means in said housing for directing theheat from said light source outwardly through a plurality of alignedopenings in said support blocks onto the work-piece, a plurality ofthermal-sensing elements movably mounted in said housing in equallyspaced relation to said heating element, biasing means acting between atleast one of said support blocks and said sensing elements for urgingsaid sensing elements outwardly from said one end of said housing forengagement with the work-piece, and means for limiting the inwardmovements of said sensingelements with respect to said housing.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in which said means forlimiting the inward movements of said sensing elements comprises limitscrews mounted in said one of said support blocks to project outwardlyfrom the housmg.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in which said biasing meanscomprises spring brackets mounted on said one of said support blocks andconnected to said sensing elements.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 7 with the addition that aplurality of air tubes are mounted in said support blocks and convergetoward each other between the opening in said one support block and saidthermal-"sensing elements adjacent the outer face of said one supportblock, said air tubes being in open'communication with a conduitconnected to a source of air under pressure.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 in which said housing andconduit have pluralities of openings formed therein adjacent said lightsource.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said means fordirecting the heat from said light source comprises a reflector mountedin said housing around said light source, a lens mounted in the supportblock adjacent said light source, and a frustoconical reflective shieldmounted in said support blocks in alignment with said lens.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 in which said reflector has aplurality of cooling fins, and means are provided for circulating air insaid housing around said fins.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 12 in which said means fordirecting the heat from said light source comprises a reflector mountedin said housing around said light source, and a frustoconical fiberoptic carried in said support blocks in alignment with said lightsource.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 14 in which said fiber opticcomprises a plurality of glass fibers each having a diameter of lessthan .0001 inch.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 14 in which the end of saidfiber optic adjacent the light source is connected to said reflector andthe opposite end of said fiber optic projects outwardly through said oneof said support blocks.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 14 in which said reflector has aplurality of cooling fins, and means are provided for circulating air insaid housing around said fins.

18. A thermal testing probe, comprising a housing having a pair oflongitudinally spaced support blocks forming one end of the housing, alaser diode heating element interconnected to one of said support blocksfor projecting a beam through aligned openings in said support blocks toheat a localized area of a work-piece, a plurality of thermal-sensingelements mounted in sleeves slidably carried in said support blocks inequally spaced relation to said heating element, biasing means actingbetween said sleeves and the other of said support blocks for urgingsaid thermal-sensing elements outwardly beyond said one end of saidhousing for engagement with the work-piece, and means for limiting theinward movements of said sensing elements with respect to said housing.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 18 with the addition that meansproject outwardly from said sleeyes to engage the other of said pair ofsupport blocks for limiting the outward movement of said sensingelements.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 18 in which said support blocksare interconnected by a plurality of bolts extending therebetween, and aplurality of spacers are mounted on said bolts with their opposed endsabutting the adjacent faces of said support blocks.

21. The invention as set forth in claim 18 in which said means for.limiting the inward movements of said sensing elements comprises limitscrews mounted in said support blocks to project outwardly from thehousing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,951,360 9/1960 Sampson et al7315 2,750,791 6/1956 Hanysz et al. 73l5 2,924,771 2/1960 Greenburg etal. 73--15 3,216,241 11/1965 Hansan 73-15 3.222,9l7 12/1965 Roth 7315JAMES I GILL, Primary Examiner H. GOLDSTEIN, Assistant Examiner *zgggyUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 555Dated January 19, 197].

Inventor(s) RUDI M. SCHROEER and THOMAS A. GARMHAUSEN It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, line 8, after "poor" insert we1d-.

C01. 3, line 32, change "insulated" to insulating-- C01. 5, line 51,change "pluarity" to --p1ura1ity--.

Col. 6, line 2, change "workpiece" to --work-piece--.

Claim 12, line 1, change "claim 1" to "claim 7--.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of June 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

